The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has issued thousands of show cause letters to teachers who failed to declare their wealth last year.
The Commission, which has shared the list of teachers who failed to declare their wealth with Sub County Directors (SCD), says the teachers must respond by early next week or miss salaries.
“Unless a satisfactory reason is given by Monday next week the teachers stand to miss their salaries,” one of the Sub County Directors warned teachers yesterday.
Teachers just like with other public service employees, are required to declare their wealth after every two years.
According to Section 26 and 27 of the Public Officer Ethics Act (POEA) all Public Officers are required to declare their Income, Assets and Liabilities (IALs) every two years.
The previous wealth declaration was done in 2021.
In a Circular number 12/2021 dated 4th October 2021 addressed to all TSC heads of institutions and teachers and copies sent to Regional and County Directors, the Commission ordered teachers to declare their wealth by 31st December 2021.
The Commission said any declarations made after the midnight of 31st December, 2021 will not go through.
The Commission CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia also warned of dire consequences for teachers who fail to comply.
Any teacher employed by the Commission who fails to submit the declaration or gives false or misleading information will be liable to a fine of Kshs 1,000,000 or be imprisoned for a term not exceeding one year or both upon conviction,” said Nancy Macharia.
She further said, the teacher will be subjected to administrative disciplinary action as per the TSC Administrative Procedures on DIALs (Declaration of Income, Assets and Liabilities).
She said all teachers employed by TSC must declare Income, Assets & Liabilities. These include teachers on:
• Leave of whatever nature
• Interdiction
• Suspension
Authorized absence of duty
The teachers employer had said teachers who have been in employment for a period of less than two years should submit their Initial declarations because the system is customized to facilitate this.
TSC ordered Heads of Institutions to monitor the declaration progress in their respective institutions and report on non-Compliance by 31st December, 2021.
In a bulk SMS sent to teachers on 3/11/2021 the Commission said the Wealth Declaration exercise is ongoing and asked those who have not started to do so.
“Dear Mrs Kimani, this is to inform you that the wealth declaration exercise is ongoing and will end on 31st December 2021. Access the Declaration of Income, Assessts and Liabilities (DIALs) Instructional manuals on www.teachersonline.tsc.go.ke Avoid the last minute rush, file your declaration early as advised through Circular no. 12/2021 sent to your email,” read SMS sent to Jane Kimani, a teacher in Nyandarua.
But not all teachers were able to declare their wealth according to the Commission.